I think I've dealt with the caterpillars and squash bugs by using Neem and manually removing them. Everything looks well except this one leaf on my zucchini.
Today I saw a couple of these critters on the one bad leaf. I proceeded to remove it and toss it on the compost pile.
Would someone let me know what this bug is and if it is detrimental?
Thanks much!
[img]https://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh99/cbar851/DSC_0002-2.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh99/cbar851/DSC_0001-2.jpg[/img]
- applestar
- Mod
- Posts: 30361
- Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm
- Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)
Striped Cucumber Beetle. There are Spotted kind too. Once they start on your cucurbits, they can spread mildew disease, so definitely begin your 10% Milk Solution regimen.
They are quick little buggers and scuttle/hide under the leaves. Catch and squish or drop in soapy water. That leaf was pretty far gone and right to remove but usually, remove the bug, not the leaf.
They are quick little buggers and scuttle/hide under the leaves. Catch and squish or drop in soapy water. That leaf was pretty far gone and right to remove but usually, remove the bug, not the leaf.

-
- Green Thumb
- Posts: 527
- Joined: Wed May 26, 2010 10:41 pm
- Location: South Carolina, Upstate
Man o man! I HATE these bugs. I agree they are fast little devils. IMO, the stripped ones are faster than the spotted one. My best method of attack is to smack them out of the air onto the ground and Stomp em
They fly away when I try to grab and crush. When they hit the ground, they are stunned just long enough to step on them.

Thanks, tell more about this milk solution. 10% of what?applestar wrote:Striped Cucumber Beetle. There are Spotted kind too. Once they start on your cucurbits, they can spread mildew disease, so definitely begin your 10% Milk Solution regimen.
They are quick little buggers and scuttle/hide under the leaves. Catch and squish or drop in soapy water. That leaf was pretty far gone and right to remove but usually, remove the bug, not the leaf.
- engineeredgarden
- Green Thumb
- Posts: 426
- Joined: Thu May 13, 2010 11:51 am
- Location: NW Alabama
- rainbowgardener
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 25279
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:04 pm
- Location: TN/GA 7b
[quote="cbar"]
Thanks, tell more about this milk solution. 10% of what?[/quote
10% milk, the rest water, if you are doing it preventatively. If you are treating an existing condition can be up to 50% milk.
Type milk solution into Search the Forum and you will get 11 pages of listings many with explicit instructions.
Thanks, tell more about this milk solution. 10% of what?[/quote
10% milk, the rest water, if you are doing it preventatively. If you are treating an existing condition can be up to 50% milk.
Type milk solution into Search the Forum and you will get 11 pages of listings many with explicit instructions.
-
- Green Thumb
- Posts: 527
- Joined: Wed May 26, 2010 10:41 pm
- Location: South Carolina, Upstate
HAHA! I hesitateI only have the spotted variety, and they don't have a chance against my quick hands. Here's a picture of a spotted beetle that was taken in my garden 2 years ago...

- rainbowgardener
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 25279
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:04 pm
- Location: TN/GA 7b
No way in the world I could bring myself to squish a beetle with my bare hands. I squish aphids that way just fine, but something about the crunch-squish is just tooooo gross! But if you bring a bowl of soapy water (in this case detergent is just fine, since it isn't going on your plants) and throw them in, all you have to do is the grab part, not the squish part.
-
- Green Thumb
- Posts: 527
- Joined: Wed May 26, 2010 10:41 pm
- Location: South Carolina, Upstate
As much as I hate the bugs... I want nothing to suffer... If my fate were to be death by squishing or death by slowly drowning in dawn dish soap... I would, hands down, pick the squish 
I know... They're just bugs...
I just don't have it in me to use my bare hands... The mere thought of live things crunching under finger pressure us enough to make me faint.

I know... They're just bugs...
I just don't have it in me to use my bare hands... The mere thought of live things crunching under finger pressure us enough to make me faint.
